About 4 mln foreign nationals stay in Russia illegally

From the beginning of 2013, 545,000 foreign nationals have been banned from entering Russia

MOSCOW, February 04. /ITAR-TASS/. Out of 10.4 million foreign nationals staying in Russia to date, some 1.5 million are working on a legal basis, while 3.7 million are in the risk group, exceeding the 90-day term of staying in Russia for foreign citizens, Federal Migration Service Director Konstantin Romodanovsky said in an interview with the Komsomolskaya Pravda daily on Tuesday.

Charts showing number of foreigners in Russia and main immigration statistics. ITAR-TASS Infographics

As for the other 4.3 million foreign nationals, he said “they have come with different aims not connected with labor activity — to study, undergo medical treatment or as tourists”. “They are not entitled to job permission,” he added. “And we have 3.7 million people in the risk group, those who have stayed in Russia more than 90 days. They arrived with some private goals. Most likely to work as well, but they have no right to that,” the director said, adding that “entry to Russia is being closed for this group”.

From the beginning of 2013, 545,000 foreign nationals have been banned from entering Russia. “Every day 3,000 to 4,000 foreign citizens are banned from the country. The process is computerized. Our system itself reveals these people and sends information to territorial agencies, whose leadership makes the decision on entry ban,” he added.